Door Alignment Components for Selective Interlocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional door assemblies with two co-mounted doors lack an efficient mechanism for interlocking and locking systems, leading to separate operation and potential security vulnerabilities.
Innovation Solution
A door assembly with magnetically coupled handle assemblies and a locking system featuring rotatable components, alignment components, and spring elements for secure interlocking and locking of opposing doors, allowing user-initiated locking and unlocking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If two doors are co-mounted in a single door frame and operated separately, then each door can be independently controlled, but the system lacks efficient interlocking and creates security vulnerabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate door systems into a unified interlocking system where the door handle assemblies are magnetically coupled together. This allows the doors to be operated independently when needed while also enabling them to be securely interlocked when both are closed, resolving the contradiction between independent control and security vulnerability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces magnetic coupling as an intermediary mechanism between the two door handle assemblies. This magnetic field acts as a mediator that enables selective interlocking without physical contact, allowing the system to transition between independent operation mode and interlocked security mode seamlessly.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional separate locking mechanisms are used for each door, then each door can be locked independently, but the system lacks an efficient interlocking mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the door handle assemblies with multi-functionality, allowing them to serve both as independent locking mechanisms and as part of a unified interlocking system. The magnetic coupling enables the same handle assembly to function in multiple modes: independent operation, independent locking, and coordinated interlocking, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical interlocking mechanisms with a magnetic coupling system. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical linkages between doors while providing efficient interlocking capability, reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
3Reliability
If magnetic coupling is used to interlock door handle assemblies, then secure interlocking is achieved, but the doors require precise alignment for effective magnetic coupling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the magnets in both door handle assemblies at corresponding locations that create equivalent magnetic potential when the doors are closed. This symmetrical arrangement ensures that the magnetic fields align naturally when the doors are in their normal closed position, reducing the need for high manufacturing precision while maintaining secure interlocking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses identical magnet configurations in both door handle assemblies, creating homogeneous magnetic coupling conditions. This symmetry ensures that the alignment requirements are standardized and predictable, making the system more tolerant of manufacturing variations while maintaining reliable interlocking.
4Manufacturing precision
If alignment components with predetermined rotational orientation are used, then rotational alignment is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the door frame and door assemblies with built-in alignment features that automatically guide the doors into proper rotational alignment when closed. The door frame structure itself serves as the alignment mechanism, eliminating the need for separate complex alignment components while ensuring precise rotational positioning for effective magnetic coupling.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables secure interlocking and locking of doors, providing enhanced security and ease of operation by allowing both doors to be opened and closed together or independently while ensuring secure alignment and tactile feedback for locking.
Implementation Method 1
the magnetic surfaces of each aligned pair of the first and second pluralities of magnets have opposite magnetic polarities, the magnetic surface of each of the first plurality of magnets magnetically coupling to the magnetic surface of an aligned one of the second plurality of magnets
Data Source
AI summary
A first lock assembly comprises a first alignment component operatively rotationally connected with the first rotatable component and a second lock assembly comprises a second alignment component operatively rotationally connected with the second rotatable component that will engage with one another upon moving the first door proximate to the second door, at least one of the first and second alignment components having a predetermined rotational orientation for engagement with the other of the first and second alignment components, the first and second alignment components each including interacting surfaces that during engagement with one another rotationally align the first and second alignment components with one another to create an effective rotational translational connection from the first lock assembly to the second lock assembly, whereby user initiated rotation of either the first or second rotatable component can cause locking or unlocking of the lockbolt or latch in one of or both the first and second doors. The first lock assembly can include a first mounting element to be fixed in place to the first door, and the first alignment component can comprise a movable component that is axially and rotationally movable relative to the first mounting element. A spring element can be operatively positioned between the first alignment component and the first rotatable component.